.ghoti.

Anybody seen this thing? https://www.fishingify.com/products/line-spooler-winder

Mick, I have been experimenting with just what you're looking at. Started with some of my factory rods. There is a wide range of line behavior among these rods. Particularly between the reel and stripper, and between the stripper and the next guide. All of these factory rods have the "standard" large double foot guides in those two positions. The rods I've built for myself, using smaller guides, perform a little better. At least it looks like it. It is difficult to prove that this extra line movement is detrimental, but common sense says, to me at least, that it has to have some negative impact. A solution would seem to be a taller stripper, then a somewhat shorter transition guide, then the runners. I have ordered some Fuji AT guides, BKNAGs, in the five sizes they have, 4-6, for experimentation. These are single foot guides Fuji says are for spinning rods. Be about a month before I have time to fiddle around with these, but I will let you know what I discover when I do have time.

Tres cool, Wayne. I like, and will keep it in mind.

Ive use Alps reel seats, both the $50 MVT and the $15 Textouch. They have the same feel and profile. The Textouch is the better bang for the buck. Try one of those first before spending fifty bucks on a seat.

The lack of a ceramic ring keeps me from using those. I have not built a casting rod using Microwave guides, butI have one in the queue. A local guy, who bought all the components, has me building hid first custom. I like Microwaves for spinning rods. They do what the propaganda says, and they are very easy to set up. We will see how the casting version works shortly. I'm not expecting to see much difference. I like Fuji Alconites, LAG and BLAG.

I use dual locking wraps on every single foot guide. Easy to do, doesn't look bad, and gives me a little extra peace of mind. Why not, says me.

Looking good Ray. Welcome aboard.

Don't use a guide for a hook keeper. Wrap a real keeper on.

This https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=pd_sim_79_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0047BIWSK&pd_rd_r=BYQ0GWSK0NV2H5G5XDSH&pd_rd_w=999ld&pd_rd_wg=pOmUV&psc=1&refRID=BYQ0GWSK0NV2H5G5XDSH and this https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Camping-Kettle-Heater-Boiler/dp/B00P2F6FX4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1484171917&sr=8-3&keywords=12+volt+tea+kettle I highly recommend the Aeropress. Once you figure out your preferences for quantities, temp and time, you will have the best cup of coffee you've ever had.

It is addictive. You already know the bait monkey. Get ready to meet the shop monkey.

I will likely get slapped for saying this; but I don't think a typical bass rod, MH power and under, needs double foot guides. Single foot guides with locking wraps are more than enough. when you get into heavy power and up, Muskie rods, swimbaits, punching,etc; then double foots might be just what you want.

And he looks like a happy camper. You are going to build some memories. And I will bet you are going to build some more rods.

As far as I know, what you want does not exist. Microwave guides come with either Nanolite or duralite rings

Nice job, man. Be proud of it.

I can BS with the best of em.

If i were still servicing reels for other people, I would pay about fifty bucks to have one laying around as an organ donor.

I have never had a problem with Recoil guides. I have several factory rods with them, and one I built for myself with them. I have no experience with Recoils on a spinning rod, so I cant comment on them. On a casting rod, the low height of Recoils almost demands a spiral wrap setup. That would be a non-issue on a spinning rod. Titanium framed guides will give you a weight reduction, which to some, is all important. You will have to run the numbers on that, and then decide if the reduced weight is worth the extra cost. Titanium will take a bit of weight off the business end of the rod, but you can accomplish the same effect by moving the reel seat a little bit forward. As far as guide ring material goes, I like Alconite. Size and frame material being the same, and SiC guide will be roughly twice the cost of an Alconite. And, you cant tell the difference when fishing. If somebody tells you they can feel the difference while fishing, ask them to roll you some of the stuff they've been smoking, because it most be some pretty good shtuff. As far as Torzite goes, those are for the guy who's ego demands that their toys be the most expensive. Unless youre married to Fuji guides, check out Alps titanium guides. Y series for the stripper and next guide, TVS series for reductio guides, and F series for running guides. Titanium franes with Zirconium rings. Zirconium is between Alconite and SiC in terms of hardness.

This should give you a good starting point. http://merricktackle.com/tips/KR-concept-guide-placement-charts.pdf

If you added a few more tags, you might get a few more responses.

Amen, brother.

Ive been trying, without success, to find a pic of the tree my stepson and I put up several years ago. Wife was at work, and tols us before she walked out the door, to get the tree up and decorated. We got it up in a corner. We added several strings of tiny lights. Then we emptied my tackle boxes. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, senkos, flukes, jigs, etc,etc,etc. i dug out a needle and some braid, and strung together a whole bunch of the brightest color worms I had to make a tree topper. Looked pretty cool. We were proud of ourselves. So was the wife, until she got a little closer to it. She was a bit irked at first, but then came around, and saw the humor in it. She was the one who took a bunch of pics. Maybe just to show the people she worked with just how dumb the men of the house could be when the boss wasn't there. Relly wish I could find a pic or two. We didnt repeat it. Turned out it was a true pain to get all the baits off the tree. Both hands and all fingers and thumbs were bloody by the I finished.

I have reels with straight handles and reels with bent handles. There is no functional difference.

http://www.bassmaster.com/don-barone/working-stiffs-st-croix-rods

Welcome aboard, Finn! How long will it be before we see you with your first fish in hand? Im gonna say three and half years.

Ask RW how he likes that rod. I just ordered another Immortal, for another mod.